ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- When the 5th Combat Communications Group became part of the 461st Wing, it brought its long and rich history with it.
The 5th CCG was first activated as the 5th Mobile Communications Group July 1, 1964, at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and was known as “5th MOB” or “The MOB,” which is still in use today as the group’s nickname.
During this period of the group’s history, the 5th CCG participated in multiple exercises and deployments to include the Dominican Civil War in 1965, along with air traffic controllers and mobile control tower crews to Florida in 1969 for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 moon shots.
In March 1976, the 5th MCG was redesignated as the 5th Combat Communications Group. Once again, they participated in multiple exercises and deployments. After 52 Americans were taken hostage in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 4, 1979, 5th CCG air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel were deployed to Desert One staging area during the April 1980 rescue attempt.
In October 1980, Operation European Liaison Force One was started to provide around-the-clock surveillance of the Persian Gulf, and to ensure the Iran-Iraq War did not spread to Saudi Arabia. During the operation that lasted over eight years, personnel were rotated in and out of Saudi Arabia to provide communications support to the Airborne Warning and Control System units operating on their rigorous schedule. Additionally, almost the entire air traffic control section of the group was sent to various airports across the world after the 13,000 civilian air traffic controllers walked out of their jobs August 3, 1981.
In 1984, the group was temporarily redesignated as the 5th Combat Information Systems Group when all Air Force Communications Command units were designated as such. On Oct. 1, 1986, it returned to what it is today. In 1988, the 5th MOB was reorganized into three mission squadrons: the 51st, 52nd and 53rd Combat Communications Squadrons.
The 51st CBCS provided communications and air traffic control support to an Air Force headquarters, usually the U.S. Central Command Air Forces Headquarters, now known as U.S. Central Command. The 52nd CBCS and 53rd CBCS provided the same support to deployed bases.
One of the largest full-scale deployments of the 5th CCG came in 1990 with the beginning of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. As one of the first communications units in theater, all three squadrons provided air traffic control and communications support to CENTAF Headquarters and six other deployed wings. More than 600 5th MOB members were deployed to dozens of individual locations throughout the theater during both operations.
In the spring of 1993, the 5th CBCS was created to aid the mission squadrons for their taskings and deployments. Also, on June 18, 1993, the 54th CBCS was founded and designed to mirror the 52nd CBCS and 53rd CBCS mission set and capabilities.
After the 9/11 attacks, the group’s ability to quickly deploy and provide support around the world was displayed as the 51st, 52nd, 53rd and 54th CBCSs were deployed to different locations such as Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan, in support of Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In 2006, around 70 Airmen were deployed to nine different locations in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom with Air Expeditionary Force 7/8 and AEF 9/10. There were also Mobsters sent to Baghdad International Airport in Iraq at Sather Air Base for command and control communications support for around 50,000 multinational forces at Iraq’s busiest airport.
Another accomplishment of the 5th CCG was the installation of the communications infrastructure at New Al Muthana AB, the first-ever Iraqi Air Force Base. They installed the first secure airborne network, extending command and control, or C2, for JSTARS and the Combine Air Operations Center located at Al Udeid AB, Qatar.
On Sept. 1, 2024, the 5th CCG was realigned under the 461st Wing, and the wing was tasked with organizing, training and equipping a cohesive command, control and communications, or C3, unit of action. Since the 5th CCG’s activation in 1964, they have earned six Meritorious Unit Awards, one Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device, 14 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, and two Air and Space Outstanding Unit Awards while deploying all over the world.